Air conditioning and cooling machine



Jan. 27, 1942. J. E. .KORTS AIR CONDITIONING AND COOLING MACHINE FiledFeb. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z6 INVENTOR.

16 Julian E.-Kc|r"f5 BY I ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. -5, 1940 FIG. 4.

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Patented Jan. 2 7, 1942 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING AND COOLINGMACHINE Julian E. Korts, Baxter Springs, Kans. Application February 5,1940, Serial No. 317,442 j 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in air conditioningmachines and more particularly to air cleaning, humidifying and coolingmachines and an important object of the invention is to provide acompact light weight air conditioning machine having a relatively largecapacity.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of animproved filter construction.

A further object is to provide improved means to automatically moistenthe filter with vaporiz-- able liquid, such as water, so that airpassing thru the filter will be cleaned, humidified and cooled. l5

Astill further object is the provision of an air cleaning, humidifyingand cooling machine adapted to force large quantities of air thru amoistened filter'without tending to generate objectionable spray ormist.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described and which, for a given capacity, will require lesspower to operate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Figure 3 is a horizontalsectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 44 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail view of a float valve preferablyforming a part-of the invention.

In the drawings, which show only a preferred embodiment of theinvention,and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding partsthroughout the several views, the letter A 5 generally designates theimproved air condition-v ing machine, including a housing B for thefilter C, filter moisture distributing means D and blower means E, whileF designates louvre means carried by the housing B.

In the example shown, the housing B of substantially semi-cylindricalshape, including a substantially semi-circular base IS, a rectangularfront plate l6 provided with a circular opening l1, an arcuately curvedrear wall I8 provided with a rectangular intra-marginal opening l9, anda substantially semi-circular removable cover 2|). Secured inwardlyadjacent the curved rear wall l8, as by suitable bolts 2|, is arectangular sheet 22 of hardware cloth, such as half inch mesh wire,constituting a protective screen. Formed in opposite sides of the walll8 are access openings 23, each provided with a closure plate 24,mounted for vertical sliding movement between suitable guide strips 25.Secured in spaced relation to the rear wall I8, as by suitable brackets26 is a substantially semi-circular iron band 21, forming a hand-rail bywhich the housing maybe readily moved. If desired, suitable diagonalbraces 28 may be provided interiorly of the housing. f

Of semi-cylindrical shape, the filter C is disposed inwardly adjacentthe curved rear wall I8 of the housing 13, and comprises an inner ply 30of wire cloth, such as one inch mesh poultry netting, and a fabriccoating 3| of porous absorbent material of one or more layers, thenumber of layersvarying with the kind of material used and also with theexposed surface area thereof as compared with the volume of air to behandled and the type of power unit to be employed. In the example shown,8 layers of 16 x 20 mesh cheesecloth are provided with an exposed areaof square feet. The ply 30 of wire cloth and the coating 3| of porousmaterial are pleated to form a plurality of closely spaced dihedrallydisposed panel sections 32, which are self-supporting due to therigidity of the ply 30 of the wire cloth. I have found that the coating3! of absorbent material will not actually require any support otherthan that furnished by its proximity to the ply 30 of pleated wirecloth. However, in assembling the filter, the wire cloth may be paintedwith enamel, varnish or the like and the first layer of the absorbentmaterial laid thereon. The remaining layers of the absorbent materialare then applied over the first layer, either before or after the wirecloth has been pleated. While the absorbent coating 3| may be of a sizeto permit draping over the top edges of the ply 30 of wire cloth, so asto facilitate uniform distribution of moisture to the material,thecoating, as actually manufactured, is of a size to terminate belowthe upper edge of the wire cloth, and an' absorbent wad 33 isinterposedbetween the upper margins of each pair of adjacent dihedralpanel sections 32.

Referring now to the filter moisture distributing means D, the same maycomprise a lower trough 35, of annular segmental shape,

cent the side walls 38 and terminating above 45 carrying nuts 48.Projecting laterally from coupling sleeve 82.

resting on the base I5 of the housing; and receiving intermediate itsend portions 88, 81,. the lower end portion of the filter C. Disposedabove the filter C .is an upper trough 38, of annular segmental shapeand including side walls 38 disposed inwardly of the side edges of thefilter C and end walls 48 of a height greater than that of'the sidewalls and substantially aligning with the end edges of the filter 0; Ex

teriorly applied to the-bottom and sides of this trough coating 4| needsonly be absorbent. As

clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, this coating 4| extendsover'the-side walls and includes marginal portions 42 interiorlyadjamaterial on which the coated upper trough 38 is 80 disposed.Extending upwardly from the bottom of the lower trough'35 at oppositeends of-the filter C are spaced-apart,uprights 44 provided at theirupper ends with screw-threaded studs the end walls 48 of the uppertrough are lugs 41 resting on the nuts 48 and providedwith openings 48thru which the studs 45 loosely extend. The arrangement is such that,with the intermediate portion of the upper trough 38 resting on thefilter C, the trough may be brought to a level position by adjustment ofthe nuts 48 on the studs 45. As the porous absorbent coating 4| and thestrip 43 on which the trough rests are formed of resilientlycompressible material, the trough may ordinarily be leveled withoutaffecting the moisture-transmitting capacity of the contact between thecoating 4| and the strip 43. I Extending into the housing B is a supplypipe 58, provided exteriorly of the housing with a manually operablevalve 5|, and interiorly of the housing with a valve 52 operable by afloat 53 disposed in the end portion 38 of the lower trough 35. Thisfloat valve 52, as shown in Figure 5, includes a stem 54 terminating atits upper end in a conical valve head 55 coacting Y valve body 51, Iprefer to encircle the stem with a flexible disc 58 of any suitablematerial such as rubber, centrally clamped to the stem as by nuts 58,and circumferentially clamped between sections 88, 6| of the valve body51, as by a Extending from the float valve 52 is a pipe 83 including ariser portion 84, a horizontal portion 85'above the level of the uppertrough 38 and a downturned terminal portion 86 disposed in the uppertrough substantially midway its ends.

Mounted in the lower trough 35, at its end portion 31, as shown inFigures 1 and 3, is a water pump 18 and extending therefrom is a pipe 1|discharging at its upper end 12 into the upper trough 38. Connected tothe pump 18 is an electric motor 13 provided with a suitable card 14containing the usual conductors 15 for supplying electrical energy tothe motor.' Interposed in the cord 14 is a suitable manual controldevice, such as a switch: 18, for starting and stopping the motor 13.

Any suitable type of fan or blower meansE for creating a suction zoneand a pressure zone, one of said zones being disposed transversely ofthe concave side of the arcuate filter C, may

a suitable belt 81 with a driven-pulley 88 fixed.

on the rear end portion of the fan shaft 53. The circumference of thedriven pulley 88 may be considerably greater than that of the drivepulley 88 so that sufiicient power will be derived from the relativelysmall motor 85 to properly rotate the fan. If desired, current for thesupply cord 14 of the motor 85 may be obtained by tapping the cord 14 ata point 14a. in advance of the switch 18.

In order to control the entrance into. or exit from the housing of airpassing thru the opening |1, any suitable louvre means F may beprovided." Secured to the front plate l8 of the housing at oppositesides of the opening H, as

by brackets 88, are spaced apart vertical strips 8|, supporting aplurality of spaced horizontally disposed louvres 82, as by stubs orpins 83, for rotary movement about axes longitudinally of the louvres.These louvres 82 may be connected for simultaneous adjustment in anysuitable manner. In the example shown, a wire rod- 84 is provided havingarcuately deformed portions 85 extending thru openings 88 in thelouvres. At

its upper end, the rod 84 may be inturned to provide a dog 81 forreleasable engagement with .any one of a plurality of openings 88 in thefront plate, the rod 84 being sufliciently flexible -To' bring themachine into operation, the water supply valve. 5| is opened and theelectric cord 14 is connected to asource of current. Assuming themachine to be dry, and the float 53 down,

the needle valve 52 will permit the flow of water I into the uppertrough 38. 'Upon entry of the supply water into the upper'trough, theporous absorbent coating 4| and its marginal portions 42 will become wetthru capillary action or a water supplied to the upper trough will nottend to overflow except thru-the coating 4|.- The moisture in thesegmental strip 43 will tend to amines be either a pressure or suctionof air thru the filter C, so that evaporization of the moisture in theabsorbent coating 3| will occur simultaneously with a cooling andhumidifying of the current of air. Should the absorbent coating 3l' tendto dry out near its lower margin due to bring about a resumption of thewater supply to the upper trough. By manipulation of the control switch16, the circulating pump 70 may be placed in operation.

It will be understood that the circulating pump may be continuouslyoperated in conjunction with the remainder of the machine to supply theupperf trough with a quantity of water greater than the amount actuallyconsumed thru evaplO oration from thefilter C. Any water not vaporizedfrom the filter C will of course drain into the lower trough and therebybecome available for recirculation. If desired, the marginal portions 42of the absorbent coating SI of the upper depletion of the supply ofwater in the upper trough may obviously be omitted and under this,trough, a quantity of water sufficient to maintain the coating in amoist condition will be absorbed from the lower trough thru capillaryaction of the coating, whereby to lower the water level in the lowertrough. Thereupon, the valve 52 will open and bring about .a resumptionof the supply of water to the upper trough. After the machine hasoperated for a certain length of time, the water level in the lowertrough will tend to become stabilized at a height to main- 1 tain thefioat valve in a substantially constant partially closed positionwhereby to reduce the flowof water into the upper trough 38 to the exactamountbeing removed from the filter C thru evaporation. An increase inthe moisture content of the' incoming air to be conditioned will ofcourse decrease the evaporation of moisture from the filter 'C, thusresulting in a surplus of moisture reaching the lower trough, but thissurplus will of course'eievate the float and {gereby decrease the supplyof water to the filrC.

Since internal obstructions to the uniform flow of air thru the filterdue to the design of the machine may tend to result in unevenevaporation of moisture from the filter C and the appearance of dryspots therein, the thickness of those portions of thefilter coating 3|tending" to. dry out so as to conduct agreater supp y of moisturethereto. Upon resumption of operation of the machine A following a.lapse in its use, substantially all the water in the machinemay becontained in the lower trough, thus tending to maintainthe float valvein its closedposition. However, the lower-"portion of the filter {C willstill be in a moist condition by reason of its capilation; willhaveremoved sumcient water from the lower trough to cause valve 52 toopen and condition, moistening of the filter C will necessarily dependon the fiow of water over the side walls 39 of the trough.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided an improved machine forcleaning, cooling and humidifying air and wherein an improvedsemicylindrical filter member is provided in conjunction with a blowerfan adjacent the concave side thereof.

invention herein shown and described without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the following claims.

35, formed of fabric pleated to provide substantially verticallydisposed dihedral panel sections, means to supply saidliquid to saiddistributing means, and means creating an air suction zone and an airdelivery zone, one of said zones being dis- 40 posed transversely of theconcave side of the arcuate porous member to produce a substantiallyuniform draft of air thru said member.

v 2. An air conditioning device comprising an arcuate porous memberformed of pleated fabric to provide a plurality of substantiallyvertically disposed reentrant dihedral panel sections, meanstosubstantially uniformly moisten the porous member with a vaporizableliquid, such as water, said means including an annular segmental porousstrip superjacent said porous member, an

annular segmental trough adapted to distribute said liquid thruout thelength of said strip and means to supply said liquid to said trough, and

means disposed transversely of the concave side' of the arcuatemember toproduce a substanlarity and after a few minutes of machineopertiallyuniformly distributed draft of air thru sai porous member.

JULIAN E. KORTS;

Various changes may be made in the form of v

